BRPI0611836B1 - A suitable apparatus for and method for the sieving and separation of continuous fluid from a material containing a solid and a fluid fractions and the use of fluid generated by an apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

apparatus and method for sieving and separating fluid from a material, use of fluid flow generated by an apparatus. The present invention describes an apparatus (1) for sieving and separating fluid from a material containing fractions of a solid and fluid, the material being placed on an upper side of at least one screening element (13), and the apparatus ( 1) being supplied with at least one fluid flow generating device (5) for producing a fluid flow through a portion of the material loading screen element (13). The present invention also describes a method of using the apparatus (1).

Description

APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR AND METHOD FOR SINKING AND CONTINUOUS FLUID SEPARATION OF A MATERIAL CONTAINING FRACTIONS OF A SOLID AND FLUID AND USE OF FLUID FLOW GENERATED BY AN APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to a fluid sieving and separating apparatus. More particularly, it relates to a sieving apparatus and method for a material such as, but not limited to, a drilling fluid containing drilling mud and perforated particles or cuttings, and separation liquid and gas which are released from the material .

The separation of solid particles from the fluid flow by passing a fluid through a filter or sieving device having perforations, which are so large that the solid particles are retained on the surface of the sieve instead of passing through it, is a technique quite known. Some fluid streams contain other substances, which cause solid particles to clump or adhere to or adhere to a sieve surface, which leads to bridging through the sieve holes, and the sieve clogs. Such problems often appear in well drilling, in which a drilling fluid or mud circulates within the well.

During drilling work the drilling fluid circulates continuously between the uncoated well and the surface to remove the drilled particles, also called cuttings, from the drill bit. The cuttings are loaded with the drilling mud to the surface, where the cuttings are separated from the drilling mud. The drilling mud is then recirculated into the well for drilling work. Due, among other things, to the fact that drilling mud is expensive, it is desirable that it be reused as much as possible. The drilling mud is kept as clean and free of contamination from cuttings and foreign bodies as possible. Drilling mud is typically cleaned using various types of separate equipment incorporated into a process chain, including vibrating screening devices, commonly called

Petition 870180135533, of September 28, 2018, p. 12/18

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vibrating screens or vibrators and degassing units or so-called degassers.

When drilling through sections of sandstone formations, a drilling fluid of such high viscosity is used that 5 conventional sieving devices do not provide sufficient gravitational forces for the drilling mud to be separated from the solid particles. This is due, among other things, to the fact that the connections between the drilling mud and solid particles and the connections between the drilling mud 10 and the screening device, for example, the screening screen, in the sieving are very strong.

There are several disadvantages related to the prior art mentioned above.

Conventional vibrating screens, in which the material to be sieved is passed through a sifting screen fixed to a frame that is subjected to vibratory movement, for example, by means of a displacement group weight, are very noisy and, in addition, 20 transmit substantial vibrations to the base of the device.

Due to the fact that the sieving effect is achieved by the sieving screen being moved in relation to the material to be sieved, in both the horizontal and vertical planes, the sieving screen is subjected to considerable use and, because of this, it it has to be replaced frequently. Such a replacement of the screening screen is a relatively time-consuming task. If there is no alternative screening device available, the materials to be screened should be stored temporarily while the screen is being replaced.

When sifting the drilling fluid from an oil well, substances that are unfavorable to health and the environment will evaporate. When vibrating screens are used, such evaporation will be to the immediate environment of the screening device because it is practically not likely to encapsulate the screening device. The workers

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that have to be with the sieving device could thus be exposed to evaporations harmful to health.

The invention aims to correct or at least reduce one or more disadvantages of the prior art.

The objective is achieved through characteristics such as those specified in the description below and in the subsequent claims.

In this document, positional specifications such as upper and lower, base and top or horizontal and vertical refer to the position of the device in the figures below, which is also a practical, necessary or natural functional position.

Surprisingly, it has been found that if a fluid flow is passed through the perforated material and still through the sieving device, a much more efficient separation is achieved between the drilling mud and the sieving device or the sieving screen. In addition, it has been found that it is advantageous that such a fluid flow is produced by means of a suction device, which is placed on a lower side of the screening screen on which the perforated material is placed. Even if an air stream could also be applied through a nozzle as pressurized air from above the perforated material, blowing towards it, such a solution would be unfavorable since, in such a case, the material perforated in the sieving device would have to be arranged in a layer of level thickness that would have to be adjusted to the position of the nozzle in relation to the sieving device. This could complicate the device, which is not desirable from the point of view of maintenance, among other things.

In one aspect the present invention consists of an apparatus for sieving and separating fluid from a material containing fractions of a solid and fluid, the material being placed on an upper side of a sieving element, and the apparatus being supplied with at least least one fluid flow generating device to produce a

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fluid flow through a portion of the fluid carrier sieving element.

In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow has movable direction from the upper side of the screening element and through said portion of the screening element. The upper side means, in this connection, the side of the

sifting in which is placed the material, what is being sifted. In a modality preferred o fur any less one device 10 generation flow in fluid includes a nozzle in suction which is in communication in fluid with fur any less one device

of vacuum generation through an arrangement of a tube, a portion of the suction nozzle being moved upwards and a lower side of the sieving element. In an embodiment 15, the vacuum generating device consists of a container, which is in fluid communication with at least one vacuum pump known to you. With the exception of associated tube systems, the container is preferably fluid-tight and will therefore be referred to as, in the following, a fluid-tight container. The fluid-sealed container is preferably in fluid communication with the suction nozzle. Thus, it is the lower pressure produced in said fluid-sealed container by means of said vacuum pump that produces the flow of the fluid within the suction nozzle 25. The fluid that is removed from the particulate material present in the sieving element consists substantially of liquids and gases. These liquids and gases mix with air, for example, which is supplied to the apparatus at a proportion substantially corresponding to the proportion in which the vacuum pump draws air from the apparatus and in such a way that the desired lower pressure in the apparatus is achieved. In one embodiment, the apparatus is supplied with air through at least one feeder portion for the perforated material. To facilitate the separation of gases and liquids from the fluid, in a preferred embodiment the fluid-sealed container is supplied with at least one separating device known to you, such as

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as, but not exclusively, a separating plate, the purpose of which is, among other things, to reduce the speed of the fluid in the said fluid-sealed container. Due to specific gravities other than gases and liquids, gases can be brought out of the container and for further treatment of an upper portion of the container, while liquids could be pumped out of the container for further treatment of a lower portion of the container. In this way, the fluid, which is removed from the particulate material present in the sieving element, could be passed, in a totally controlled manner, in the form of gas / steam and liquid for recycling or controlled distribution. This eliminates, among other things, the problem of personnel exposure to evaporation of perforated material that is unfavorable to health.

In one embodiment, the sieving element consists of at least one strip without an end or sieving screen, which is arranged in a manner known to itself to be moved around at least two rollers or cylinders which are placed substantially parallel to each other. and away. At their ends, the rollers are preferably connected to a sieve clamping device known per se, which is prepared to adjust the spacing of the rollers so that in this way it provides selective adjustment of the sieve element clamping. In a preferred embodiment, the screening apparatus is additionally supplied with a fixed screening element prepared to receive the material to be screened. When the material is placed on said fixed sifting element, some of the material will be sieved before being transferred to said sifting element without end for additional sieving.

A propellant device known to you is connected to at least one of the rollers to rotate it and thereby rotate the screening element.

In a preferred embodiment, two or more

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sieving are prepared to be placed at least partially overlapping in the vertical plane. In such an embodiment, the individual apparatus can advantageously be supplied with sieving elements with different holes in the screen, the holes in the screen of a screen element for a lower screen device being smaller than the screen holes of the screen element for a device superior sieving in a manner known to you.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is additionally supplied with at least one oscillator, known per se, which is preferably placed in contact with a portion of the screening element. The oscillator is designed to transmit oscillations towards a portion of the underside of the sieving element. In one embodiment, the oscillator is placed in a portion of the suction nozzle. Tests have shown that at least one oscillator is effective in facilitating the release of the liquid that was not released from the sieving element through the fluid flow and that is still in the sieving element.

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the sieving element is more influenced by high frequency oscillations. In a preferred embodiment, high frequency oscillations are produced by an acoustic source. The acoustic sound source is preferably constituted by an ultrasound source arranged, for example, but not limited to, that described in Norwegian patent application No. 20051433 belonging to the present applicant and included in its entirety in this application.

In a preferred embodiment, the sieving apparatus is supplied with a cleaning device, which is prepared to release particles that do not leave the sieving element only under the influence of gravitational forces. In one embodiment the cleaning device includes nozzles, from which a flow of fluid is released, which is passed through the sieving element, preferably when it is close

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of said rollers. The fluid used for this cleaning process is preferably, but not necessarily, recovered from inside the sieving device.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of sieving and degassing a material is provided, which is placed on the upper side of a sieving element. The material containing fractions of a solid and fluid, and which is located in a portion of the sieving element, is influenced by a fluid flow produced by a fluid flow generating device.

In the following, an unrestricted exemplary embodiment of a preferred embodiment is described, which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding or similar parts are substantially indicated by the same reference numerals, and in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective and partially cut-away view, seen from above, of a fluid separation and sieving apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the device;

Figure 3 shows the apparatus of figure 1, seen from above and partially cut;

Figure 4 shows, on a larger scale, a section through line A-A in figure 2; and

Figure 5 shows, on a larger scale, a perspective view of a portion of the screening apparatus in figure 1.

As already mentioned, in what follows, it refers to similar parts by the same reference numerals. For clarity, in some of the figures, identical devices are indicated by the reference numeral of one of said devices only.

In the figures, reference numeral 1 identifies a fluid separation and sieving apparatus, which is prepared, for example, but not exclusively, to separate perforated particles from the drilling mud. In what follows,

8/14 the fluid separation and sieving apparatus 1 will also be referred to only as apparatus 1.

apparatus 1 includes a sieving unit 3 and a fluid separation unit 5 connected for this purpose.

In figure 1 the sieving unit 3 and the fluid separating unit 5 are shown each with a side wall removed. This happens for illustrative reasons only and a person skilled in the art will understand, therefore, that the side walls must be placed in the respective units 3, 5 for the apparatus 1 to function satisfactorily.

The screening unit 3 includes a supply portion 7, which is supplied with a first fixed screening device 9. The supply portion 7 is defined by a frame device 11. The material to be treated is supplied to the supply portion 7 and loaded by means of a sieving device 9 to a sieving element 13. The sieving element 13 is formed by a sieving screen without end which is prepared to rotate around a pair of upper rotating rollers 15 and a pair of bottom 15 'rotating rollers. The rotating rollers 15, 15 'are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart.

At least one of the rotating rollers 15, 15 'has a drive device known to you also connected, for example, but not limited to a motor rotating at least one rotating roll 15, moving the sieving element 13. A technician will recognize that the said electric motor replaced electric 16, for

15 ', in this way the person is a device element device

Below a sieving engine opens 17 um of the versed in could pneumatic or hydraulic. 3 is also provided with to adjust the sieving opening 13 between the rotating rollers 15, 15 '.

of a portion of the sieving element 13 and defined between said upper pair of rotating rollers 15 two suction nozzles 20 are placed. In the exemplary embodiment the suction nozzles 20 are identical and only one is

9/14 indicated with a reference numeral.

A person skilled in the art will understand that the device 1 of the exemplary modalities is shown only by means of operating mode drawings and that the device in a usage situation will have to be connected to a control system known to you and a power supply . Although apparatus 1 is shown only with a sieving element 13, it is understood that the apparatus could also consist of one or more sieving devices, which could be placed to overlap completely or partially in the vertical direction. Likewise, it will be understood that one or more sieving elements without end 13 could be replaced by fixed sieving elements, through which the material to be sieved is passed through mechanical means (not shown) or by means of gravitational forces, possibly by means of vibrating devices and / or acoustic sound sources (not shown).

Figures 2 and 3 show, respectively, a side view and a plan view of an apparatus 1 in a configuration in which the fixed sieving device 9 is prepared to receive material containing drilling mud and perforated particles and to separate at least one little bit of the drilling mud from the drilled particles. The drilling mud released from the material in the sieving device 9 and flowing through it is received in a lower portion of the sieving unit 3. The perforated material is passed from the sieving device 9 to the sieving element without end 13.

Each of the suction nozzles 20 is formed by a gutter-like element 22 (see figure 5) connected in a final portion to a tube preparation 24. In figure 3 the suction nozzles 20 are shown extending across the entire sieving element width 13.

The preparation of tubes 24 could establish fluid communication between the sieving unit 3 and the sieving unit

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fluid separation 5.

The fluid separation unit 5 is supplied with two pumping devices, which are prepared to suck fluid from the upper portion of the fluid separation unit 5. In the following, said pumping devices are called suction pumps 26.

With the exception of the supply portion 7, an outlet portion for cuttings falling from the sieving element 13, and the connected tube preparations 24, 28, the sieving unit 3 forms a fluid adjustment vessel. For clarity, only a portion of an upper sealing disk 30 is shown placed on an upper portion of the sieving unit 3. However, it will be understood that the sealing disk 30 covers the entire upper portion of the sieving element 13 with the exception of supply portion 7.

Like the sieving unit 3, the fluid separation unit 5 is formed by a fluid adjustment vessel that is connected to tube preparations 24, 28, and in addition to drain tube preparations which will be explained in more detail. details in the following.

Upon activation of the suction pumps 26, the fluid substantially in a gas phase will be drawn through the suction pumps 26 into a ventilation system 32 and additionally for treatment in a manner known per se or for disposal. The fluid removed from the fluid separation unit 5 is replaced substantially by fluid, which is sucked through suction nozzles 20 and the tube arrangement 24.

In an embodiment shown in figure 4 the upper end portion of the suction nozzles 20 has been brought into contact with the lower side of the sieving element 13. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the suction nozzle 20 is supplied, in one upper end portion, with roller devices preferably supported on the lower side of the sieving element 13 and, to a significant degree, reducing the friction between and, therefore, use in the

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the sieving element 13 and the upper end portion of the suction nozzle 20. In yet another alternative embodiment (not shown) the suction nozzle 20 is moved away from the lower side of the sieving element 13.

Because of the fluid that is drawn through the suction nozzles 20, a flow of fluid is supplied, among other things, from the supply portion 7, through the perforated material (not shown) present in the sieve element portion 13 located above suction nozzles 20, and despite the said 10 portion of the sieving element 13. In tests carried out with a fluid flow of approximately 12 m ³ / minute through the ventilation system 32, substantial amounts of fluid were withdrawn or sucked from the material perforated loaded through the sieving element 13. 0 15 said fluid, formed by, among other things, drilling fluid and gases from it, and also air, is loaded into the fluid separation unit 5. In figure 2 is shown the In principle, a separating disc 34 known to you, which will facilitate the separation of liquid fluids from gas fluids. The liquid that is separated will be collected in the base portion of the fluid separation unit 5, while the fluid that is in a gas or vapor phase will be sucked out of the fluid container 5 through the suction pumps 26 into the system. ventilation 32.

The liquid collected in the base portion of the sieving unit 3 could be passed through a tube preparation 28 into the base portion of the fluid separation unit 5, by means of, for example, a pump not shown, From the fluid separation unit 5, the liquid is pumped by means of a pump 41 into an arrangement of a drain pipe 36 and for, for example, additional treatment and reuse. Such outward pumping is preferably controlled by means of control devices and valve arrangements known per se. In 35 figures 1-3 a control valve 38 is shown to be placed in the pipe arrangement 28 and a check valve

12/14 is shown to be placed in the preparation of the drain pipe 36.

The arrangements of the tubes 24 providing fluid communication between the suction nozzles 20 and the separation unit 55 are shown to be supplied with a shut-off valve 42 each. One of the purposes of the stop valve 42 is to interrupt the communication between the suction nozzle 20 of the sieving unit 3 and the fluid separation unit 5 if the fluid flow carries particulate material 10 such as, but not limited to, gravels in the breaks in the sieving element 13 or for other reasons. A sensor device such as, but not limited to, a flow sensor 44 and a particulate filter 46 are placed in each of the tube arrangements 24. If the particulate filter 46 is at least partially clogged, the sensor flow meter 44 can transmit a signal, in a manner known to you, to an activating mechanism (not shown) for activating the stop valve 42. Similarly, the control valve 38 of the pipe arrangement 20 28 could be controlled.

A person skilled in the art will recognize that an alternative or additional valve or pump arrangements known per se could be integrated into pipe arrangements 24, 28, 36. Furthermore, it will be understood that the drain pipe arrangement 36 and the valve systems 32 are preferably connected to additional devices (not shown).

The perforated material transported from the supply portion through the screening unit 13 between the upper rotating rollers 15, falls and is loaded in a manner known to you by means of a drainage beam 48 out of the screening unit 3 and stops, for example, be collected for transportation for disposal on the coast.

To be able to control and maintain constant lower pressure 35 in the fluid separation unit 5, the fluid separation unit is supplied with a pressure valve

Lower 13/14 52 of a type known to you.

Although in the figures only two suction nozzles 20 are shown for the sieving unit 3, it will be understood that a number other than the number of suction nozzles 20 shown is also covered by the present invention.

In principle, a cleaning device in the form of cleaning nozzles 50 placed in the direction of portions of the sieving element without ends 13 is indicated in principle. The purpose of the cleaning nozzles 50 is to direct a flow of 10 fluid, preferably air / gas. recovered from the inside of the sieving device 3, through a portion of the sieving element 13 to release particulate material that has become trapped in the sieving element 13. The flow of the fluid is directed to the sieving element 13 15 preferably from the bottom., in the position of use, of the screening element 13 and preferably upstream of the movement of the screening element 13 around the individual rotating roller 15, 15 '. By the use of such cleaning nozzles 50 the sieving element 13 can maintain its sieving capacity to the greatest extent possible. As the necessary apparatus, necessary to provide such cleaning nozzles 50, is well known to a person skilled in the art, it will not be described in more detail in the present invention.

Drilled material from drilling an oil well may contain substances that are unfavorable to health. Some of these substances are released from the perforated material during the cleaning process. A substantial advantage of the fluid separating and sieving apparatus 1 according to the present invention is that the apparatus is encapsulated and any undesirable gases and vapors released during the cleaning process are collected and taken away in a controlled manner from the separating apparatus fluid and sieving 1 and 35 possible additional treatment and / or release into the atmosphere in a location away from personnel. A substantial additional advantage

14/14 of the present invention is that the device provides two devices which could be handled as a unit and which, compared with devices of the prior art, occupy very little of the already limited area available, for example, an offshore installation.

More advantages of the present invention refer to the capacity of the sieving apparatus 1 in relation to the ability to separate fluid from solids and to separate fluid within a gas phase and liquid phase and related aspects have shown that one of satisfactorily sieving the vibrations and apparatus separation according to the present noise. Fluid and invention tests could clean up from 2000-3000 liters of drilling fluid per minute.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus (1) suitable for sieving and continuous fluid separation of a material containing fractions of a solid and fluid, in which the material is drilling fluid, which is continuously circulated between a well and the surface and contains drilling mud and perforated particles or cuttings, and for the separation of liquid and gas, which are released from the material, said sieving and fluid separation apparatus (1) comprising: - a sieving unit (3) having at least one sieving element (9, 13), on whose upper side the material is placed, the sieving element (9, 13) including a sieving element without end (13) arranged to be moved around at least two rotating rollers apart (15, 15 '), and at least one suction nozzle (20) which is located near the bottom side of the sieve element without end (13) and extends through the entire width of the sifting element without end (13), - a fluid separation unit (5) having a fluid-sealed container (5 ') which is removed by means of at least one vacuum pump (26), the gas phase of the fluid being arranged to be separated from the liquid phase of the fluid in the container (5 '), and the gas phase of the fluid and the liquid phase of the fluid being removed separately from said container (5'), - an arrangement of tubes (24) connecting at least one suction nozzle (20) to the container (5 ') to allow a continuous flow of fluid through at least a portion of the material present in the sieve element without end (13) for the fluid-sealed container (5 '), characterized by the fact that, except for the supply portion (7) open for material to be sieved, an outlet portion for particles falling from the sieving element (13) and the tube arrangements (24, 28) connecting the sieving unit (3) to the separation unit Petition 870180135533, of September 28, 2018, p. 13/18 2/5 of fluid (5), the sieving unit (3) forms a fluid-tight container. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation of the gas phase from the fluid from the liquid phase of the fluid is facilitated by the fact that the container (5 ') is supplied with at least one separation device (34) prepared to reduce the speed of the fluid passed from the suction nozzle (20) by means of an arrangement of tubes (24) inside the container (5 '). Apparatus according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one vacuum pump (26) is prepared to carry the gas phase of the fluid from the container (5 ') into a system ventilation tube (32). 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the apparatus (1) is additionally supplied with a tube arrangement (28), which is prepared to take liquid from a base portion of a sieving unit ( 3) into a container (5 '). Apparatus according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the container (5 ') is in fluid communication with a pumping device (41) prepared to take the liquid phase of the fluid out of the container (5 '). Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a portion of the tube arrangement (24) between the suction nozzle (20) and the container (5 ') is fitted with a valve interruption switch (42) which is activated by an activating mechanism which is controlled by a flow sensor (44). 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that at least a portion of the sieving element (9, 13) is more influenced by high frequency oscillations. 8. Apparatus, according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that high oscillations Petition 870180135533, of September 28, 2018, p. 14/18 3/5 frequencies are produced by an acoustic source. 9. Apparatus, according to claim 8, characterized by constituted by a fact that the source of acoustic ultrasound source. 10. Apparatus, according to claim 7, a fact characterized by frequency are produced by at least oscillations of an oscillator. high 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the at least one oscillator is prepared to transmit oscillations to a lower side of the sieving element (9, 13). Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized by the fact that the at least one oscillator is positioned in a portion of the at least one suction nozzle 13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the screening element (9, 13) additionally includes at least one fixed screening device 14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that two or more sieving units (3) are prepared to be placed at least partially overlapping in the vertical plane. 15. Apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 14, characterized by the fact that apparatus (1) is cleaning (50), additionally supplied, which is prepared to clean the sieving element (9, 13) the particulate material present in it. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that at least one nozzle (50) includes the cleaning device which is directed to a portion of the sieving element (13), a flow of fluid being released from said at least one nozzle (50) and passed through at least a portion of the sieving element (13). Petition 870180135533, of September 28, 2018, p. 15/18 4/5 17. Method for sieving and continuous fluid separation of a material containing fractions of solids and fluid, in which the material is drilling fluid, which is continuously circulated between a well and the surface and contains drilling mud and drilled particles or gravel , and for the separation of liquid and gas, which are released from the material, the material being placed on an upper side of a sifting element without end (13) prepared to be moved around at least two spaced rotating rollers (15, 15 '), characterized by the fact that the method includes the steps of: - move at least one suction nozzle (20) upwards towards the bottom side of the sifting element without end (13), the at least one suction nozzle (20) extending across the entire width of the sieving element without end (13) and being in fluid communication with a fluid-sealed container (5 ') through an arrangement of tubes (24); - attaching to said sifting element without end (13) in a fluid-sealed container, with the exception of a supply portion (7) open for material to be sieved, an outlet portion for particles falling from the sieving element (13) and the tube arrangements (24, 28) that connect the container to the fluid-sealed separation container (5 '); - remove the fluid-sealed separating container (5 ') by means of at least one vacuum pump (26) to produce a lower pressure; - generating a continuous fluid flow through a portion of the material present in the sieve element without end (13); - separating the fluid into a liquid phase and a gas phase in the fluid-sealed container (5 '); and - removing said liquid phase and said gas phase separately from the container (5 ') by means of at least one pumping device (26, 41). Petition 870180135533, of September 28, 2018, p. 16/18 5/5 18. Use of fluid flow generated by an apparatus, as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is for separating fluid from the fractions of a solid.